P90X, Week 1

I've decided to post my weekly progress in the p90x plan here for a couple of reasons. First and most importantly, it will keep me accountable. Second, there have been a few threads/questions on the program, and maybe this will help to answer those questions.

A quick summary: p90x is a 90 day workout program, fairly intense, and structured. In a week, you're doing every other day of resistant-type training, and three days of cardio-type training. All that's needed are dumbbells and a pull up bar. The rest of the workouts can be done in your garage/living room. It also provides a nutritional plan (won't post the details of that though). It's a three step process...train one way for a month, change it up for month two, change it up for the final month.

I'll be posting my progress with the workouts as well as nutritional information (when I keep track of that). Here we go:

Tuesday - Chest and Back.

I decided to start very cautiously and conservatively. So, when they're doing 30 push ups, I'm doing 15 or so. Push up/pull up alternating for about 1 hour, so you end up doing 8-10 sets of various push ups, and 8-10 sets of pull ups or rows. I can only do 3-5 reps of pull ups, so while they were pounding out 15-20 pull ups...I'm doing three. it's always great when a woman can beat you to oblivion (one of the 'models' in this workout is a female). Was pretty sore in the chest the following day, and am looking forward to going 100% this week.

Wednesday - Plyometrics.

Again, I went with a very conservative plan here; I hadn't done plyometrics since 10th grade, so I knew I'd be in trouble. They did a certain exercise for 45 second, I did it for 30. Had trouble walking the next day with this. Very challenging. One of the models had a prosthetic leg, so that made me feel like a real loser. Tough day.

Thursday - Shoulders and Arms.

Conservative plan, maybe too conservative. Again, alternating between arm exercises and shoulder work. Shoulders were sore the next day, arms not so much. Probably left too much on the table this day, but just wanted to get through the workout, not knowing what to expect.

Friday - Yoga X.

Most frustating day of the week. I am as flexible as a 2x4, and their 'models' all have at least average flexibility to perform the movements. I am well below average, and ended up hurting my back a bit, and quit 1/2 way through this workout. Thanks to a suggestion by a poster on the TC-CL, I'll be making some adjustsments to this workout and try it for the entire first month. Got to be careful of my back though.

Saturday - Legs and Back.

Easily the most challenging resistance day of the week. Probably because I pushed it more than the other days. All the leg workouts (except one) use no real additional weight. You're using your body weight, which is tough. All back exercises were pull ups, so I had the same issue as Tuesday...I just can't do that many. First set through, I did three pull ups. Second set, I did 4. Very tough day, and glutes were very sore.

Sunday - Kenpo X.

The third of the 'cardio days'. Since I was a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do when I was 9, I should have no problems here. (sarcasm). This isn't a high impact day, but high sweat day. Lots of punching combos (jab, cross, hook, upper cut) which I got all mixed up, but all in all, a fun day. Went probably 95% this day.

Nutrition:

Total calorie goal is 2400/day. I weigh ~190 or so (maybe a couple of pounds less) and am a banker (sedentary) so I needed to monitor this. So, for the first time, I have been tracking religiously my diet using thedailyplate.com. This first month, diet should be 50% protien, 30% carbs, 20% fats.

My averages for nutrition are (if all has been calculated correctly):

Total Calories: 1846 (needs to be 2400)

Sugars: 74

Carbs: 128 (need to be 180)

Fat: 47 (need to be 53)

Protein: 136 (need to be 300)

These proportions are WAY under what I need, and WAY out of whack. If I want to succeed with this plan, I'm going to have to make major adjustments to my diet. (And the numbers above are a little out of whack (actual, not "need to be"); I went to an all you can eat buffet and just pigged out.) I'm not training for a triathlon any more, and need to adjust accordingly.

So, I'm sore, I'm looking forward to going 110% next week, and really focusing on my nutrition. Will update at least every week, maybe more if I have a breakthrough.